PRODUCT
REVIEW
ABU GARCIA REVO BEAST X
By Matt Williams
PHOTOS BY MATT PACE
Big on muscle yet moderate
in size, the lowprofile
Revo Beast X
combines some of the best
features of Abu Garcia’s
entry-level Revo X with its
flagship 40-size baitcaster,
the Beast. The result is an
affordable powerhouse
hybrid specifically engineered
for tackling heavy-duty applications
using big baits and
large-diameter lines.
The $179.95 price point on
the Beast X is a good one for
a mid-sized “specialty reel”
with such high qualities. At
just 9.35 ounces, the Beast X
as like a beefed-up welterweight
that’s well equipped
to take on the biggest bass
in the lake.
First Impression
The matte black Beast X
is identical in frame size and
weight to its grayish Beast
brethren, which costs $100
more, but the similarities
between the two reels don’t
end there. Both utilize the
same heavy-duty brass gearing,
clutch design, extended
95mm handle and highcapacity
spool that combine
to ease the inherent strains
of retrieving big, hard-pulling
baits and help in delivering
them long distances.
The main differences
worth noting include the X
model’s traditional paddlestyle
grips (the regular Beast
has large foam knobs), a 24-
pound drag system (the regular
Beast has a 30-pound
drag) and the MagTrax magnetic
braking setup (the regular
Beast has an upgraded
Infini braking system) – all
incorporated to reduce cost
while maintaining Abu
Garcia’s reputation for quality.
In Action
Abu Garcia’s claim that
the reel is a big-bait workhorse
is right on the mark.
Just make sure you’ve got
plenty of line handy before
you start filling the spool,
because it gobbles up a
bunch. The Beast X is rated
to hold 165 yards of 50-
pound-test braid and 170
yards of 17-pound-test mono.
I used it to throw 2 1/2-
ounce glide baits, magnum
swimbaits and hard-pulling
crankbaits such as the
Strike King 10XD. Casts
were smooth across the
board in combination with
14- to 20-pound-test fluorocarbon
and braided line up
to 50-pound test. The clickable
28-point magnetic
braking system – called
MagTrax – helped to keep
overruns in check.
I was equally impressed
by the reel’s torque, stability
and leverage. It felt like a
winch as the big handle,
oversized brass gears and
rigid frame all worked in unison
to retrieve hard-digging
baits with noticeably less
effort than a standard-sized
cranking reel. Paired with the
proper rod, it’s a powerful
setup you can still use for
extended periods without
fatigue.
Final Thoughts
Though it’s primarily touted
as a “specialty reel” for
throwing big, heavy baits or
hard-pulling deep-divers –
and it works great for that –
the Beast X doesn’t necessarily
have to live in the rod
locker until a specific duty
calls. I found it to be versatile
enough to toss smaller baits
such as medium-sized paddle-tail
swimbaits, the Strike
King 6XD, under-spins and
more, as long as the appropriate
line and rod were
used. You can even flip with
it if need be. Being able to
cover multiple bases effectively
with one reel easily justifies
the $179.95 price tag.
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FLWFISHING.COM | MAJORLEAGUEFISHING.COM | JUNE-JULY 2020